Over two weekends in January, 150 high school girls’ lacrosse players descended on the Spooky Nook Indoor Sports Complex in Manheim, PA to showcase their abilities in hopes of being “drafted” by their college coach instructors.

The Draft was a success in its first year

Ultimate Events and Sports, owned by Michele DeJuliis and Rebecca Wells, hosted the inaugural event in an idea to ‘draft” some of the best talent in the area while inviting some great instructors in the game to work with the girls in the event.

“The Draft was created to offer a unique experience for high-level players,” said DeJuliis. “By combining drill format and small game play with an additional day of full field tournament play, ‘The Draft’ offered fast paced, high
repetition drills and games that challenged the athletes on all aspects of their game mentally, physically & tactically.”

Girls from 12 different states, traveling from surrounding areas as well as California, Colorado, Massachusetts and more, participated in two days of high-level playing including skill building drills, competitive small-sided games and full field games on the second day.

Following Saturday’s instruction, participating college coaches “drafted” their teams for games on the second day that were part of a round robin, full field tournament. The teams played for bragging rights to become the first-ever champions of The Draft.

“There was a talented staff of collegiate coaches that taught the desired skill development and executed the curriculum with enthusiasm and professionalism,” said DeJuliis.

The coaches loved it too! Mike Faith, head coach at Franklin & Marshall College, was one of the instructors who joined the inaugural event. Faith said, “Thank you for having us. I thought it was really well run and the girls seemed to enjoy themselves and learn some new things. I loved it.”

“Great facility and well organized. Worth the trip from Seattle,” compliments a parent of a participant. The players, coming together initially as individuals, ending the event as a team, took away an experience of great instruction, exposure to top DI, DII, and DIII programs, and two full days of lacrosse.

Also on site was Touchline Video, filming all drills and games. This video coverage will be distributed to all college coaches in the nation allowing even those who were not able to make the event to see the footage. Overall, it was a great weekend full of competitive lacrosse and “we are already looking forward to next year’s Draft,” said DeJuliis.